Miniature cassette adapter apparatus and cassette tape recorder-reproducer

ABSTRACT

Adapter apparatus to be received within the cassette holder of a conventional cassette record-playback apparatus to permit miniature tape cassettes to be used in the record-playback apparatus, and record-playback apparatus useful with said adapter apparatus. The adapter apparatus is configured to be received within the location normally occupied by a tape cassette of standard size and configuration, and includes a receptacle into which a miniature tape cassette may be placed. The adapter includes drive apparatus which is selectively engaged to be driven by the capstan and pressure roller of the record-playback apparatus and which drives the forward takeup reel of the miniature tape cassette. One or more magnetic heads are provided in the adapter apparatus for engagement with the tape carried in the miniature cassette.

This invention relates in general to tape record-playback apparatus andin particular to tape record-playback apparatus designed for use withtape cassettes of a predetermined standard size and which enablesminiature tape cassettes to be used in such apparatus.

Although magnetic tape recording and tape record-playback apparatus havebeen popular for a number of years, the popular appeal of such apparatushas been enhanced by the introduction of tape record-playback apparatusin which the recording tape is enclosed within a cartridge, cassette, orother housing which enables the recording tape to be rapidly loaded andunloaded from the record-playback apparatus without need to thread therecording tape from a supply reel through the record-playback gate andthence to a takeup reel. Although reel-to-reel tape recorders are stillused for a number of applications, tape record-playback apparatusutilizing cassette tape has become increasingly popular especially inapplications involving relatively compact record-playback apparatus.

Many tape record-playback devices use a generally standardized type oftape cassette popularly known as the "C--60" or "C--90", depending onthe amount of tape provided in the cassette, and referred to herein asthe "C--60" tape cassette. This standard cassette, as is known to thoseskilled in the art, encloses a pair of tape winding members and hasprovision for capstan tape drive to provide the regulated tape speeddesirable for high-quality audio reproduction. Another tape cassettewhich is commerciallly available is popularly known as the miniaturecassette or "mini-cassette", the miniature cassette also contains a pairof tape winding members, but is substantially smaller in overall sizethan the aforementioned C--60 cassette and contains no provision forcapstan drive of the tape. The miniature cassettes find substantialpopularity in combination with small record-playback apparatus of thetype which can be hand-held in its entirety, for example, and which arepopularly used as a kind of verbal memo pad wherever it is desired tohave available a compact, lightweight tape recordplayback apparatus thatcan be carried in a person's pocket or briefcase.

A major disadvantage with the miniature cassette is the fact thatneither the miniature cassette nor the tape record-playback apparatusdesigned for its use are compatible with the more widely availablerecord-playback apparatus designed to accept the C--60 tape cassette.Accordingly, the user of a miniature cassette record-playback apparatus,who may be using such apparatus for recording purposes while away fromhis office, must provide special miniature cassette playback ortranscription apparatus in his office, whereas his standard officedictation equipment or another readily available record-playbackapparatus may be designed to accept the standard C--60 cassette. Thisuser of the miniature cassette thus pays the price of requiring twoseparate and non-compatible record-playback machines at the playback ortranscription location, as a price of enjoying the compactness andportability afforded by record-playback apparatus designed to accept theminiature cassette.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideimproved tape record-playback apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus whichenables a miniature cassette to be used in conjunction withrecord-playback apparatus designed for use with larger cassettes.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide adapterapparatus which enables a miniature cassette of the type not intendedfor capstan tape drive to be used in record-playback apparatus of thetype employing a tape capstan and pressure roller tape drive mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatuswhich enables a miniature cassette to be used in record-playbackapparatus designed to accept cassettes having a larger overallconfiguration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide record-playbackapparatus which readily accepts either a tape cassette of standard largesize or an adapter to receive a miniature cassette.

Many of the other objects and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof including the drawing,wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a pictorial view of a tape record-playback apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, including anadapter for miniature cassettes shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 shows a pictorial view of a miniature cassette adapter accordingto an embodiment of the present invention and positioned for use withthe record-playback apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the miniature cassette adapter of FIG.2, showing the drive mechanism of the adapter;

FIG. 4 shows a rear pictorial view of the adapter shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 shows a view of the drive mechanism within the interior of theadapter shown in FIG. 2.

Stated generally, the present invention comprises an adapter supportconfigured to be received within the tape cassette receptacle of arecord-playback apparatus in lieu of the standard tape cassette normallydisposed therein. The adapter support receives a miniature tape cassetteand includes both forward and reverse tape motion drive mechanisms whichare automatically operatively coupled with drive mechanisms of therecord-playback apparatus. The adapter support carries a tape transducerhead positioned to contact the tape of a miniature cassette disposedtherein and connected through a disconnectable arrangement with theaudio circuitry of the record-playback apparatus. The present inventionalso comprises record-playback apparatus having a cassette receptacleconfigured to receive a cassette of standard size and also having anaudio circuit connective device for mating connection with a miniaturecassette adapter disposed in the cassette receptacle.

Considered with respect to the embodiment as shown in the Figures, arecord-playback apparatus is shown generally at 10 and including ahousing 11 in which a receptacle 12 is disposed to receive a tapecassette such as a C--60 or the like, which is substantially larger thana miniature cassette. Extending in a generally perpendicular directionwith respect to the floor 13 of the receptacle 12 is a tape rewind drivespindle 14 and a tape forward drive spindle 15, such spindles beingconnected through appropriate drive mechanisms and control apparatus ina manner well-known to those skilled in the art. A tape drive capstan 16extends perpendicularly upwardly from floor 13 at a location adjacentthe path of travel of tape in a standard tape cassette normally receivedwithin the receptacle 12, and a rotatable pressure roller 17 is mountedon a bracket 18 for selective movement into and out of confrontingengagement with the capstan 16 and with the recording tape whichconventionally is pinched between the capstan and the pressure rollerfor tape-record or playback motion. The receptacle 12 includes one ormore cassette retention support devices, such as the members 19 and 20,beneath which the conventional standard cassette is received forretention in the receptacle.

The record-playback apparatus 10 conventionally includes one or moremagnetic transducer heads denoted at 21 which are typically mounted on amovable support member (not shown) to be selectively positionable intoand out of transducing relation with the tape of a cassette normallydisposed in the receptacle 12.

An electrical connective member 26 is disposed at a suitable locationwithin the receptacle 12, such as in the rear wall 27 of the receptacle12 in substantially flush relation therewith. This connective member 26is connected in suitable electrical relation with the audio circuitry ofthe record-playback apparatus, such as by being electrically in parallelwith the playback head 21 or by another type of connection appropriatefor the purpose as described below.

Turning next to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, there is shown an adapter apparatus29 according to the disclosed embodiment of the present invention andincluding a support housing 30 having an overall external size and shapeto enable the housing to be received within a tape cassette receptacle12. The support housing 30 has a bottom surface 31 and carries a basemember 32 in spaced apart relation with the bottom surface. Extendingupwardly from the base member 32 and mounted for rotation are an adaptertape rewind spindle 33 and an adapter tape forward spindle 34, with thespacing between the spindles 33 and 34 being substantially identical tothe spacing between the tape winding members of a miniature cassette 41shown in FIG. 2 disposed in the adapter apparatus. An adaptertransducing head 35 is mounted on the base member 32 in position tooperatively contact the recording tape of a miniature cassette 41disposed on the spindles 33 and 34. Retention of the miniature cassette41 on the base member of the adapter is accomplished through a pair ofresilient members such as leaf springs 36 and 37, which urge theminiature cassette against a corresponding pair of posts 38 and 39. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that a miniature cassette41, as shown in FIG. 2, is inserted in the adapter apparatus of thedisclosed embodiment by placing the forward or tape-exposing side of theminiature cassette against the transducer 35 and the springs 36 and 37,and then lowering the miniature cassette to engage the adapter spindles33 and 34 with the corresponding tape winding members of the miniaturecassette and to insert the posts 38 and 39 into the corresponding guideholes 38a and 39a provided on the conventional miniature cassette. Afixed guide member 42 may also be mounted in spaced-apart relation withthe base member 32 for positioning engagement by an opening 43 in thefront of the miniature cassette 41.

Electrical connection with the adapter transducing head 35 isestablished by a shielded cable or another suitable electrical connectorextending between the adapter head 35 and an electrical connectivemember 40 extending outwardly from the rear wall 41 of the adapter. Theconnective member 40 is of a type and is positioned to mate with theconnective member 26 on the rear wall 27 of the receptacle 12, so thatelectrical connection of the adapter head 35 with the audio circuitry ofthe record-playback apparatus 10 is conveniently accomplished by the actof inserting the adapter into the receptacle 12.

Turning next to a consideration of the drive mechanism for the firstembodiment of the miniature cassette adapter, as best shown in FIGS. 3and 5, the adapter rewind spindle 33 is connected to a spindle extensionshaft 50 which extends downwardly from the base 32 to a positionproximate an opening 51 disposed in the bottom surface 31 of theadapter. The opening 51 is positioned on the bottom surface 31 so thatinsertion of the adapter into the receptacle 12 causes the rewindspindle 14 of the record-playback apparatus 10 to pass through theopening 51 into rotational driving engagement with the extension shaft50. It will be appreciated that the extension shaft 50 includes at leasta hollow portion into which the rewind spindle 14 is received forrotational driving engagement. The bottom surface 31 of the adapterincludes a second opening 52 through which the forward spindle 15 of therecord-playback apparatus passes when the adapter is received within thereceptacle 12; however, the opening 52 merely accommodates the passageof the forward spindle 15, since the adapter apparatus makes nomechanical or other interconnection with the forward spindle in theembodiment disclosed herein.

The adapter foward drive spindle 34 is connected beneath the base member32 with a drive wheel 53. An endless drive belt 54 extends around thedrive wheel 53, an idler wheel 55, and a clutch wheel 56. The clutchwheel 56 is mounted for rotation on an end of an arm 57 which ispivotally mounted at 58. It can be seen that the arm 57 can assume afirst position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, in which the drive belt54 is slack and lacks sufficient tension to make substantial drivingengagement with the drive wheel 53; and can be moved to a secondposition, shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, in which the clutch wheel 56tensions the drive belt 54 for driving engagement with the drive wheel53.

It can be seen from the FIGS. 2 and 3 that the clutch wheel 56 ispositioned in the adapter apparatus to be in partial confrontingrelationship with the pressure roller 17 of the record-playbackapparatus 10 in which the adapter apparatus 29 is inserted. Thus,movement of the pressure roller 17 in a direction towards the capstan 16causes the pressure roller to displace the clutch wheel 56 in adirection to apply tension to the drive belt 54.

Considering the operation of the disclosed embodiment of the presentinvention, it is assumed that a person desires to transcribe apreviously-recorded miniature cassette using a record-playback apparatus10 designed to receive standard-size cassettes. The adapter 29 isinserted into the receptacle 12 so that the rewind spindle 14 engagesthe extension shaft 50 of the adapter rewind spindle 33 and so that theconnective member 40 makes electrical contact with the connective member26 on the rear wall 27 of the receptacle. As best shown in FIG. 2, thebottom surface 31 of the adapter is configured so that the adapter canfit around the transducing heads 21 and other structure of therecord-playback apparatus 10. The miniature cassette is then inserted onthe base member 32 of the adapter 29 with the adapter rewind spindle 33and forward spindle 34 extending through the respective tape windingmembers of the miniature cassette and with the adapter head 25 intransducing contact with the tape. Assuming that the tape in theminiature cassette was previously rewound to a starting position, thecontrols of the recorder-transcriber apparatus 10 are manipulated in theconventional manner to cause the pressure roller 17 to move toward thecapstan 16 and the clutch wheel 56. It can be seen especially from FIG.3 that the drive belt 54, which was inserted between the capstan 16 andthe pressure roller 17 when the adapter 26 was inserted into thereceptacle 12, is now pinched between the capstan and the pressureroller so that capstan rotation causes the drive belt to be moved inmuch the same manner as recording tape is normally moved by operation ofthe capstan and the pressure roller.

At the same time, the movement of the pressure roller 17 toward theclutch wheel 56 causes the clutch wheel to be displaced by a pivotalmovement of the arm 57 to a position which applies tension to the drivebelt 54, as shown in broken lines at 59 in FIG. 3. The movement of thedrive belt 54 by the capstan and pressure roller thus is applied to thedrive wheel 53 to rotate the adapter forward spindle 34 and thus tocause the tape in the miniature cassette to be moved along the adapterhead 35. Since the recording of the information on the miniaturecassette previously occurred by driving the tape winding member 65 ofthat cassette at a constant rotational velocity, thereby resulting intape moving past the recording head at nonuniform velocity, it will beappreciated that the diameter of the drive wheel 53 is chosen withrespect to the diameter and rotational velocity of the capstan 16 tocause the tape winding member 65 to rotate at the same aforementionedconstant recording rotational velocity.

If it is desired to rewind the tape on the miniature cassette, thecontrols of the recorder-transcriber 10 are operated in the conventionalmanner to retract the pressure roller 17 from contact with the capstan16 and the drive belt 54 and to permit the clutch wheel 56 to releasetension of the drive belt 54. The controls of the recorder-transcriber10 now may be operated to supply reverse-rewind rotation to the rewindspindle 14, and through the extension shaft 50 to the adapter rewindspindle 33. The relaxed tension of the drive belt 54 permits the drivewheel 53 to slip with respect to the drive belt, so that reverse orrewinding rotation of the miniature cassette tape wind member 65 is notsubstantially impeded. A resilient device such as a spring 66 can beconnected at the end of the arm 57 remote from the clutch wheel 56, toinsure that the drive belt 54 is relaxed when the pressure roller 17 iswithdrawn, although the use of a spring 66 has been found not to benecessary in working embodiments of the present invention.

Although the invention has been described thus far with respect toplayback of a miniature cassette which was previously recorded onapparatus provided especially for use with such cassettes, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that adapter apparatus according tothe present invention can also be used for recording on miniaturecassettes through the expedient of applying recording signals to theadapter head 35, and, if desired for re-recording of previously-recordedminiature cassettes, an erase head positioned in the conventionalmanner.

It will be understood that the foregoing relates only to a preferredembodiment of the present invention, and that numerous alterations andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andthe scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Adapter apparatus for use with a taperecord-playback apparatus of the type having a receptacle for receivinga tape cassette and additionally having a first powered drive means forselectively driving a tape supply member of the tape cassette in areverse .[.rewind.]. .Iadd.winding .Iaddend.direction, and tape movementmeans including .Iadd.a second powered drive means for selectivelydriving a tape receiving member of the tape cassette in a forwardwinding direction, .Iaddend.a rotatable tape drive capstan positioned tobe in proximity to a portion of the tape in the tape cassette.Iadd.,.Iaddend.and a pressure roller for selective engagement with said tapeportion, said tape movement means .Iadd.being .Iaddend.selectivelyoperative to move tape in the tape cassette in a forward .Iadd.winding.Iaddend.direction; said adapter apparatus comprising:support meansexternally configured to be operatively receivable in said tape cassettereceptacle of a record-playback apparatus in place of a tape cassettenormally received therein; said support means including means forremovably receiving a miniature tape cassette which is substantiallysmaller in external configuration than a tape cassette normallyoperatively received in said receptacle and which includes .[.at leastone.]. .Iadd. a .Iaddend.tape .Iadd.forward .Iaddend.winding memberoperative to wind tape in a forward direction .Iadd.and a tape reversewinding member operative to wind tape in a reverse direction;.Iaddend..[.and.]. .Iadd. a pair of drive members positioned on saidminiature cassette receiving means for rotational engagement with suchtape reverse winding member and tape forward winding member of aminiature tape cassette received on said support means; .Iaddend. firstdrive means associated with said support means for operative engagementwith .Iadd.the one of .Iaddend.said .[.one tape winding.]. .Iadd.drive.Iaddend..[.member.]. .Iadd.members which rotationally engages such tapeforward winding member .Iaddend.of a miniature tape cassette received onsaid support means and selectively operative to be driven by said tapemovement means to establish movement coupling interconnection betweenthe tape movement means of said record-playback apparatus and said onetape winding member of such miniature tape cassette to selectivelyimpart forward tape winding movement to said one tape windingmember.[...]. .Iadd.; and second drive means associated with saidsupport means and operatively connected between said first powered drivemeans of such tape record-playback apparatus and the other of said drivemembers on said miniature cassette receiving means to transmit reversewinding movement of the first powered drive means to the tape reversewinding member of such miniature tape cassette received on said supportmeans. .Iaddend.
 2. Adapter apparatus for use with a taperecord-playback apparatus of the type having a receptacle for receivinga tape cassette and additionally having tape movement means including afirst powered drive means for selectively driving a tape supply memberof the tape cassette in a reverse rewind direction, a rotatable tapedrive capstan positioned to be in proximity to a portion of the tape inthe tape cassette, and a pressure roller for selective engagement withsaid tape portion; said adapter apparatus comprising:support meansexternally configured to be operatively receivable in said tape cassettereceptacle of a record-playback apparatus in place of a tape cassettenormally received therein; said support means including first and secondspindle means for engagement with corresponding first and second tapewinding members of a tape cassette; first drive means on said supportmeans operative to be selectively driven in response to rotation of thetape drive capstan of the record-playback apparatus to selectivelyrotate one of said spindle means at a predetermined speed; and seconddrive means on said support means for disposition in motion couplingrelation between the first powered drive means of the record-playbackapparatus and the other of said spindle means.
 3. Apparatus as in claim2, further comprising:transducing means positioned on said support meansin signal transducing relation with the tape of a tape cassette disposedon said first and second spindle means; first signal transfer means onsaid support means in signal communication with said transducing means;second signal transfer means positioned within the receptacle on therecord-playback apparatus and operative to receive signals from saidfirst signal transfer means; and said first signal transfer means beingdisposed on said support means in position to be placed in signaltransfer relation with said second signal transfer means when saidsupport means is received in said receptacle of the record-playbackapparatus.
 4. Adapter apparatus for use with a tape record-playbackapparatus of the type having a receptacle for receiving a tape cassetteand additionally having .[.tape movement means including.]. a firstpowered drive means for selectively driving a tape supply member of thetape cassette in a reverse .[.rewind.]. .Iadd.winding.Iaddend.direction, .Iadd.a second powered drive means for selectivelydriving a tape receiving member of the tape cassette in a forwardwinding direction, .Iaddend.a rotatable tape drive capstan positioned tobe in proximity to a portion of the tape in the tape cassette, and apressure roller for selective engagement with said tape portion; saidadapter apparatus comprising:support means externally configured to beoperatively receivable in said tape cassette receptacle of arecord-playback apparatus in place of a tape cassette normally receivedtherein; said support means including means for removably receiving aminiature tape cassette which is substantially smaller in externalconfiguration than a tape cassette normally operatively received in saidreceptacle and which includes .[.at least one.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.tape.Iadd.forward .Iaddend.winding member operative to wind tape in aforward direction .Iadd.and a tape reverse winding member.Iaddend.operative to wind tape in a reverse direction; .[.and.]. firstdrive means associated with said support means for .[.operative.]..Iadd.operatively .Iaddend..[.engagement with said one.]..Iadd.imparting forward movement to .Iaddend.tape .[.winding memberof.]. .Iadd.in .Iaddend.a miniature tape cassette received on saidsupport means and selective operative .Iadd.for movement couplinginterconnection with the tape drive capstan of said record-playbackapparatus .Iaddend.to be driven in response to rotation of the tapedrive capstan of said record-playback apparatus to .[.establish movementcoupling interconnection between said capstan and said one tape windingmember of such miniature tape cassette to selectively.]. impart.Iadd.said .Iaddend.forward .[.tape winding.]. movement to said.[.one.]. tape .[.winding member..]. .Iadd.; and second drive meansassociated with said support means and operatively connected between thefirst powered drive means of said record-playback apparatus and saidtape reverse winding member of such miniature tape cassette received onsaid support means to transmit reverse winding movement of the firstpowered drive means to said tape reverse winding member of suchminiature tape cassette. .[.5. Apparatus as in claim 4, furthercomprising: second drive means associated with said support means andoperatively connected between the first powered drive means of saidrecord-playback apparatus and a second tape winding member of aminiature tape cassette received on said support means..].
 6. Apparatusas in claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.4, .Iaddend.wherein:said second drive means isassociated with said support means to be positioned in connectivealignment with the first powered drive means of said record-playbackapparatus when said support means is received in the cassettereceptacle.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said first drive meanscomprises:spindle means rotatably mounted on said support means forengagement with said .[.one.]. tape .Iadd.forward .Iaddend.windingmember of a miniature tape cassette received in said support means; andan endless drive belt means in selective rotation driving relation withsaid spindle means; said drive belt means being positioned in saidsupport means to be .[.received in driven relation with.]. .Iadd.drivenin response to rotation of .Iaddend.the capstan of said record-playbackapparatus in which said adapter apparatus is disposed.
 8. Apparatus asin claim 4, further comprising:means associated with said support meansand positioned to be displaced by selective engagement of the pressureroller of the record-playback apparatus, said means being responsive todisplacement by the pressure roller relative to the capstan toaccomplish said selective movement coupling interconnection of firstdrive means. .[.9. Apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising: seconddrive means associated with said support means and operatively connectedbetween the first powered drive means of said record-playback apparatusand a second tape winding member of a miniature tape cassette receivedon said support means..].
 10. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein:saidfirst drive means comprises drive belt means disposed in said supportmeans to be positioned between the capstan and the pressure roller whensaid support means is received in the cassette receptacle of arecord-playback apparatus; winding member engaging means disposed insaid support means and positioned to drivingly engage said .[.first.].tape .Iadd.forward .Iaddend.winding member of a miniature tape cassettereceived therein; and said drive belt means being selectivelyoperatively coupled with said winding member engaging means. 11.Apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising:drive wheel meansoperatively connected with said winding member engaging means and havinga drive belt surface along which said drive belt means passes fordriving engagement; selectively displaceable clutch pulley means alongwhich said drive belt passes, said clutch pulley means being selectivelydisplaceable to a first position wherein tension is applied to saiddrive belt means for driving engagement with said drive wheel means, andto a second position wherein tension is removed from said drive beltmeans to remove said drive wheel means from driving relation with saiddrive belt means. .Iadd.
 12. Adapter apparatus as in claim 1, whereinsaid first drive means is selectively operative either to a first stateestablishing said operative engagement between said tape movement meansand said one drive member on said miniature cassette receiving means, orto a second state for terminating said operative engagement. .Iaddend.